Push button door lock

ABSTRACT

A compact push button lock is provided which can be used as a door lock, automobile lock or for various other purposes. The lock has a large number of permutations and permits the owner to set the lock to a new combination without disassembling the lock or the use of tools.

United States Patent McGourty 1 June 6, 1972 [54] PUSH BUTTON DOOR LOCK5 R f e i d [72] Inventor: Thomas K. McGourty, Aptos, Calif. N D TATEPAT NT 73 Assignee; T Research Development Corporation 543,404 7/1895Root ..70/3 i 3 X 1,531,591 3/1925 Bennett Filed: J 1971 1,582,6634/1926 Bastian ..70 313 x [21] Appl' 104371 Primary Examiner-Albert G.Craig, Jr.

Attorney-Ecknoff & Hoppe [57] ABSTRACT I A compact push button lock isprovided which can be used as [52] U.S.Cl ..70/30l, 70/214, 70/313, adoor lock, automobile lock or for various other purposes 70/318 The lockhas a large number of permutations and permits the [5 1 1 Int. owner toet the lock to a new combination without disassem- [58] Field of Search..70/301, 313, 306, 302, 303, bling the lock or the use of tools.

5 Claims, 26 Drawing PAIENTEDJUH 61972 sum 01 0F 11 INVENTOR. THOMAS K.MCGOUKTY PATENTEDJUH 6 I972 sumnz or 11 INVENTOR. THOMAS K. McGOZ/KTY BY/fix% ATTORNEVS PATENTEDJUN 61872 3,667,261

SHEET DBUF 11 INVENTOR.

" ZH0MA MCGOURTV' ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUH 6 I972 sum on or 1y INVENTOKZHOMAS K. MCGUUKTV ATTO/ZNEV5 PATENTEDJUH s 1972 sum 05 0F 11 INVENTOR.THOMAS K. MCGUURTV ATTOI'ZNEVS PATENTEDJUN s 1912 SHEET.070F11 IDZ I Er-1 '5 INVENTOR- THOMAS K. MCGOUKTV ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUN 6 2 SHEET 08[1F 11 INVENTOR. moms K. McGOl/KTV BY Q/ f5- ATTUK NE Y5 PATENTEDJUH 61912 sum 09 or 11 THOMA5 WWW A TTOE NE V5 PATENTEDJUH 6 I972 sum 10 or11 INVENTOR. THQMAS K. MCGOUKTV ATTORNEVS PATENTEDJUH 6|972 3.667.261

sum 11UF11 OPEN L0CK+ RESET LOCK I76 INVENTOR.

THOMAS K. MtGOl/KTV PUSH BUTTON noon LOCK SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thepush button lock of the present invention operates on the same broadprinciple as that of my co-pending application Ser. No. 6,l67 filed Jan.27, 1970, but has several improvements thereover. In common with thelock of the co-pending application, the lock of the present inventionhas a large number of combinations so that it is almost impossible forone who does not know the combination to open the lock upon anyreasonably long period of experimentation. For instance, in theembodiment shown, four locking discs are provided which can go into anyone of ten positions, alone or in combination, so that on the order of20,000 combinations are possible. If even this number is insufficient,the number of discs or the number of positions for each of the discs canbe easily increased.

The lock of the present invention is of very compact construction sothat it can be easily incorporated into a standard door latch so that nospecial cutting of the door is required. It is also so compact that itcan be readily adapted for use on automobiles, luggage or almost anyother application where a lock is desired.

An outstanding feature of the present invention is that the combinationcan be changed at will by the user without the use of special tools andwithout disassembling the lock in any manner. I

Since the lock can be set by the owner, there is no possibility that themanufacturer or installer would know the ultimate combination. Further,the number of combinations is so great that it is extremely unlikelythat there be a duplication of combinations in any given community.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lockmechanism with some of the parts in phantom showing the broad principleof operation.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the lock of FIG. 1 installed on anordinary door.

FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view generally on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded view showing in detail parts of the fourlocking mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a section from the top through the center of the lockingmechanism.

FIG. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 except showing one of the buttons ina depressed position.

FIG. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 11 is a section on the line 11-11 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 showing the method of releasing thelock either when one wishes to lock the lock or when a false combinationhas been set up and one wishes to restore the lock to a startingposition.

FIG. 13 is a side detailed view, partly in section, of one of the pushbuttons and its mounting assembly.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the button shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the button shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

FIG. 16 is a section on the line 16-16 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the parts shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a partial enlarged view of the resetting mechanism whereinthe lock is in the unlocked position.

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 but showing the shift resettingmechanism wherein the buttons are pushed to rotate the shaft whileselectively withholding the cogged wheels.

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 18 showing the parts repositionedafter a new combination has been set into the lock.

FIG. 21 is a view of the lock as applied to a door showing the unlockingmechanism.

FIG. 22 is a side view of the lock shown in FIG. 21

with

some of the parts in section.

FIG. 23 is a view, similar to that shown in FIG. 21, showing the partsin an unlocked position.

FIG. 24 is an internal view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 21 showingthe operation of the combination reset and locking levers.

FIG. 25 is a partial view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 24 showing theposition of the parts as the locking mechanism is activated.

FIG. 26 is a view similar to FIG. 25 showing the parts in an unlockedposition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The general over-all operationof the device will be described first, followed by a detailed analysisof the method by which the various parts operate. Referring specificallyto FIGS. 1 and 3, the lock of the present invention has a housing 32with four push buttons, 34A, B, C and D extending therefrom. A shaft 36extends from the rear of the housing which may have a lever 38 thereonwhich. is released when the lock is unlocked to operate a latch or thelike. An arm 40 having ends 41 and 42 extends through the lock and, whenthe discs are in an unlocked position as is later described, movement ofthis arm will actuate shaft 36 and lever 38. Within the lock a shiftlever 142 having an upturned tab 44 (see FIG. 6) is provided whichserves to shift the discs when the combination is being changed andwhich can be reached by inserting a pin or any small object through thehole 46 in the casing 32. Within the housing are a plurality of lockingdiscs 48A, B, C and D. Each of the locking discs has a slot as at 50A,8, C and D. Arm 40 has attached thereto by a lost motion arrangementdescribed in detail later, an arm 52 which carries locking lugs 54A, B,C and D, it being understood that one of the locking lugs 54 will fitinto one of the slots 50 on the corresponding disc 48.

The arrangements of the buttons and discs is such that as any of thebuttons is depressed, it will tend to rotate the shaft on which thediscs are mounted. However, the discs are mounted by means of frictionwashers and the buttons are provided with a stop arrangement so that asa particular button is depressed, the corresponding disc will not rotatebut the others will. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 1, the slot 50A islined up adjacent to the lug 54A, the slot 508 is one position removedfrom its lug, disc C is three positions removed from its lug while thedisc D is two positions'removed. Thus, if one pushes the button 34A allof the discs except the A disc will advance one position, bringing the Bdisc in line with the lug and leaving the C disc two positions from thelug and the D disc one position from the lug. Since A and B are now inline, one pushes the A and B buttons simultaneously which leaves thecorresponding disc unmoved while the C disc is advanced to a point'twopositions removed from the locking lug and the D disc is moved to oneposition from the lug. Now if one presses the A and B buttons again, theD disc is brought into alignment while the C disc is still one positionremoved. One now presses A, B and D which moves only the C disc intoposition. This brings all of the discs into alignment with therespective locking lugs which can now move through theslots. Bar 40 isnow free and can be moved to actuate the lever 38, opening the lock.

Thus in FIG. 1 the set combination can be expressed as follows:

AB D

When one wishes to lock the door, lever 56 is tripped which causes thediscs to all spring back to their home positions as is shown in FIG. 1.If one wishes to change the combination on the lock, one places a smallpin or other object in the hole 46 which releases the discs so that onecan dial in a new combination. When the lock is again locked, the lockresponds only to the new combination.

The way in which these various movements are carried out will now bedescribed in detail. Reference is particularly made to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5for the detailed description of the locking and unlocking mechanisms.All of the rotating parts are mounted on a keyed shaft 58 but only someof the parts are keyed to the shaft, the others being driven byfriction. The locking discs 48 have a collar 60 thereon while the coggedwheels 64 have a collar 65 thereon the outer surface of which is adaptedto serve as a bearing for the collar 60. The inner diameter of collar 65is such that it rotates freely on the shaft 58. Cog wheel 64 has a stoppin 68. The disc 48 has a slot 50 therein which is champfered as at 51to permit the ready entrance of a locking lug. The collar 60 has aseries of pins 62 thereon while the cogged wheel 64 has correspondingseries of holes 78. The cogged wheel 64 has teeth 66 thereon and one endof the cogged wheel is recessed at 70 while a small pin 71 sticksinwardly into the recess. Washer 72v has a key 74 so that it rotateswith the shaft 58 and has an outwardly projecting pin 76. The pin 76extends into the recess 70 so that the restraining'cog 64 can revolvealmost a complete revolution with respect to washer 72 and shaft 58.This permits the cog to stand still while the shaft revolves, but whenthe shaft is released the cog will be returned to home position. Aspreviously described the restraining cog 64 has a series of openingstherein 78 which are adapted to mate with the pins 62. Thus, if the pins62 are out of the holes 78, disc 48 and cog 64 can revolve freelyrelative to each other but if they are pressed together, the pins 62will engage the openings 78 so that the two must revolve as a unit.

Ratchet wheel 80 is keyed on the shaft 58 and is pressed against thecollar 60 on disc 48 by means of a spring washer 82 and a keyed washer84. Thus if one turns the wheel 80 the members 64 and 48 will tend toturn also but, because the drive is a friction one, these members may berestrained from turning even if ratchet wheel 80 and shaft 58 do turn. Asecond ratchet wheel 86, is also provided on the shaft and a pawl 88having a spring 89 normally prevents the shaft from turning backward.The shaft is urged to turn backwardly by means of a helical spring 90mounted on the shaft which has a pin 92 fitting into a slot 94 in keyedwasher 96. Spring 90 is wound as the shaft turns forward. Lever 56,normally biased by meansof spring 98 is also rotatably mounted on theshaft and it has a cam-like portion 100 which can be brought to bearagainst detent arm 88 and a projection 101, the purpose of which will belater .described. Stops 69 engage pin 68 to establish the home positionforcog 64. v g

The buttons 34 are mounted on arm 103 over shaft 58 by means of hinge102. (See FIGS. 13, 14 and 15). The hinge is normally biased by means ofa spring 104 away from shaft 58 and each button has three teeth thereon.First there is a spring mounted tooth 106 normally held outwardly by theaction of compression spring 108. The action of tooth 106 is such thatas the key is depressed, tooth 106 comes into contact with one of theteeth of ratchet 80 causing shaft 58 to rotate. (See FIGS. 7 and 8.) Asecond tooth 1 l0 acts as a stop and contacts the smooth outside surfaceof disc 48 so that the shaft is advanced only the distance of one toothwhen the button 34 is pushed. A third tooth 1 12 (See FIG. is adapted tocontact one of the cog teeth of the restraining cog 64 and prevent itfrom rotating. The net result is that any locking disc correspondingwith a key which is pushed stands still each time a button is pressedwhile all of the others advance one position. (FIGS. 7, 8 and 9). Forinstance if one pushes buttons A and B the corresponding discs A and Bstand still while discs C and D would be advanced one position by theturning of the shaft 58. This turning would be accomplished against theaction ofthe spring 90 but the shaft would be prevented from returningto its former position by means of ratchet 86 and pawl 88. When all ofthe discs are lined up, the locking lugs 54 fit into the slot 50allowing the lever 40 to actuate the latch mechanism 38. When it isdesired to lock the lock, it is only necessary to pull the lever 56 andthe cam 100 will press against pawl 88 releasing the ratchet, allowingspring 90 to return the shaft to its home" or locked position.

It was previously mentioned that the bar 40 serves as the mechanism toactuate the latch and this action will now be described in detail,particularly with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. The bar 40 has twoelongated slots 114 and is mounted for sliding movement on the pins 116on frame 117 which is attached to housing 32. A second bar 52 (whichcarries the locking tabs 54 A, B, C and D, previously described) alsohas slots 120 and is slideably mounted between bar 40 and frame 117. Bar40 has a lug 122 while bar 52'has a corresponding lug 124 and the twolugs are connected together by means of spring 126. Because of thisspring mounting, the bars will move together if the lugs 54 areunrestrained, i.e. aligned with the slots in the discs. However, if onerestrains bar 52, the bar 40 will still move but, instead of moving bar52 and the locking mechanism, the spring will merely be stretched. Thisprovides a safety measure on the lock since one cannot force theactuating bar 40. If the lock is locked, the actuating bar still movesfreely while the actual lock actuating bar 52 does not move but thespring is merely stretched. It is desirable that the bar 40 be free tomove yet that it stay in one of its end positions and not someintermediate position. To accomplish this, bar 52 has a pin 128 thereonwhile a spring mounted detent 130 having a wedge shaped tooth 132 isurged against the pin l28.'Thus the bar can be moved to the right or tothe left but will not stay in an intermediate position.

If one tripped the reset lever 56 while the actuating lever 40 was inthe opened position, i.e. while locking tabs 54 were in thecorresponding slots 50, the discs would all be restrained while shaft 58would return to the home position, destroying the combination which hadbeenset into the lock and, in ef- I fect, setting the lock on a blankcombination so that it could be opened at will merely by pulling thereset lever and actuating the rod 40. In order to prevent this, the rod40 has a slot 134 therein which is in the path of the reset lever 56only when the lock is in the locked position. The location of theseparts is best shown inFIG. 3 and it will be apparent that the resetlever 56 can only be actuated when the arm 40 is in its locked positionwith the tabs 54 out of the slots 50. i

The way in which the actual unlocking function takes place will now bedescribed. Arm 52 carries tongues 136 and 138 which lie on either sideof a cam 140 which is attached to shaft 36. If the tabs 54 are lined upwith the slots 50, one can now move the arm 40 which in turn will movethe arm 52 causing tongues 136 and 138 to actuate ,cam 140 and thus theunlocking shaft 36. The lock in locked position is shown in solid linesin FIG. 6 while the unlocked position is shown in dash lines.

The mechanism thus far described shows a completely operating lock butdoes not show a novel feature of the present invention wherein thecombination can be reset by the user at will. As was previouslymentioned, discs 48 are slideably as well as rotatably mounted on thecollars 65 of the restraining cog wheels 64. If the parts are slightlyseparated, disc 40 is free to rotate relatively to the cog 64 but if theparts are pressed together, pins 62 engaged holes 78 so the two unitsmust rotate as one. In an inexpensive lock of the type described, thesetwo parts could be combined, presetting the lock to some particularcombination at the factory. However, in the improved lock of the presentinvention it is desirable that means be provided so that the user canreset the combination at will. (See FIGS. 6, l8, l9 and 20). For thispurpose, a shift rod 142 is provided having an upturned end 44 which isaccessible through the opening in the case 46 as previously described.This shift rod 142 carries a plurality of shift yokes 144 having arms146 and l48which lie on each side of a disc 48. Naturally there is oneyoke for each disc. Rod 142 is mounted for sliding movement on pins 150and normally spring 152 biases the shift rod 142 to the right, as shownin FIG. 6, in which position pins 62 are forced in the openings 78 sothat parts 48 and 64 rotate as a unit. Now, if one wishes to set a newcombination, rod 142 is pushed to the left as by inserting a pin or anysmall object through the opening 46 against the upturned end 44 and theyokes 144 pull the discs 48 to the left so that each disc can rotateindependently of its restraining cog 64. In order to hold the shift rod142 in its inwardly spring biased position while a new combination isbeing set, a detent 154 is provided having notch 156, the detent beingbiased in a counter-clockwise position by means of spring 158. Thus,when the resetting arm 142 is moved to the left, notch 156 engages thearm 157 holding the arm 142 in its pushed in position as is seen in FIG.19. Before the combination can be changed it is necessary to firstunlock the lock by having the locking tabs lined up with the slots inthe discs. One can now push in on arm 142 whereupon the yokes 144 willengage the discs 48 and move them to the left so that pins 62 no longerare in the holes 78; also the discs have been shifted onto the lockingtabs and are thus now restained by the tabs, while the restaining cogs64 are free to move independent of the discs. If one attempted to pushin on arm 142 while the tabs were not lined up with the slots in thediscs it is obvious that the tabs would engage the side of the discs sothat the arm 142 could not be pushed in. One now pulls on lever 56 andthis releases shaft 58 so that the action of spring 90 returns it to itshome position. Now the tabs are all restraining the discs and there isno combination on the lock. At this point, one can then dial in adesired new combination. One next pushes on arm 40 which, of course,moves arm 52. Arm 52 has a tab 160 thereon and this tab engages arm 162located on lever 154 rotating this member to the right, releasing notch156 from arm 157 so that arm 142 is now returned to its right handposition and is best seen in FIG. 20. At this point the lock is unlockedand has a new combination therein so that arm 40 can be moved freelyback and forth. Now the arm can be moved to the locked position and thelever 56 pulled which will lock the lock as previously described.

The structure heretofore described is one of general application and canbe used on doors, luggage, automobiles or other situations where acombination lock is desired.

FIGS. 2 and 21 through 26 show how the lock of the present inventionmight be applied as an ordinary door lock. The basic locking mechanismis exactly as previously described except that the two actuating leversare brought out differently. Instead of employing the bar 40 whichprotrudes from the case, together with its lost motion action, an arm119 is connected to the sliding lever 52 which carries the locking tabs54 and the lost motion is provided as is later described in detail. Thelocking or resetting lever 56 also does not protrude from the case andextends from the mechanism as a small bar 56A. A small opening 175 atthe side of the lock housing permits access to arm 44 for changing thecombination. Such locks ordinarily have a latch 170 controlled by a knob172. A housing 174 is provided with a combined reset and locking lever176 at the top thereof. The buttons 34 protrude through openings in thebottom of housing 174. Knob 172 is carried on a shaft 178 and attachedto this shaft in known manner is a disc 180 having locking slots 182therein. A slider 184 is connected by means of extension 186 through arm188. Sliding arm 184 has a slot 190 therein and when arm 188 moves tothe unlocked position, slot 190 lines up with a pin 192 on crank arm194. In this position one can now rotate the knob as is shown in FIG. 23and this will move arm 194 counterclockwise and pin 192 into slot 190permitting the door to be opened.

The lever 176 at the top of the housing serves a two-fold purpose. Whenit is moved to the left it serves to open the lock and when it is movedto the right it serves to reset the combination and to relock to lock.Lever 176 is mounted for sliding movement, as shown, and serves toactuate a yoke 177. Yoke 177 has a pin 201 which fits into a notch ofarm 203 which is pivoted at point 205. Arm 203 has a contact 207 thereonadapted to contact a hand on arm 209 which is connected to the arm 119by means of a spring 213 to arm 119. In

this manner a lost motion is provided so that if the slots are lined upwith the locking tabs, arm 119 will move through the slots permittingthe door to become unlocked. On the other hand, if the slots are notproperly lined up, one can still move the lever 176 to the left but itwill merely stretch the spring 213 leavin the door in a locked position.

Yoke 1 7 has notches 215 and 213 therein and mounted adjacent to theyoke is adetent arm 217 normally held in the up position by means of aspring 219, said detent arm carrying a pin 221. Now, assuming that thediscs are lined up, if one moves the lock to the open position,unlocking it, pin 221 will engage in the slot 2l3'holding the lock inthe unlocked position until it is relocked.

Also pivoted at point 205 is a second arm 223 having an extension 225thereon. Arrn 223 has a slot in the end thereof and is thus connected toa second crank arm 227. Arm 227 has an end 229 located adjacent to arm56A, previously described. If one now wishes to lock the lock, lever 176is moved to the right and this causes arm 203 to push against theextension 225 and transmits this motion through lever 227 to arm 56Arelocking the combination. At the same time, pin 221 will fall on notch215 and the action of the spring 219 will be such that the lever 176 isrestored to its central position when released.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations canbe made in the exact structure shown without departing from the spiritof this invention. For instance, four discs and associated buttons havebeen shown but a smaller or larger number might be employed, dependingon whether one wishes a more complicated or a simpler lock. Similarly,the ratchets have been shown as moveable to any one of ten positions.Here again a smaller or larger number might be used.

I claim:

1. A push button combination lock comprising:

a. a shaft,

b. a plurality of sets of rotating members mounted on said shaft eachset comprising (1) a ratchet wheel, (2) a slotted disc and (3) a toothedwheel,

c. friction drive means between said shaft, said slotted disc and saidtoothed wheel,

d. means between said ratchet wheel and said shaft whereby said shaft ispositively driven by said ratchet wheel,

e. push button means, said push button having a first tooth for engagingand driving said ratchet wheel and the second tooth for restraining saidtoothed wheel,

f. lock releasing means whereby said lock will be released when all ofsaid notched disc means are brought into alignment.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said toothed wheel and said slotteddisk are adapted to be coupled together in a first position and are freeto rotate when in a second position whereby the combination of the lockcan be changed by changing the relative rotative positions of the saidtoothed wheel and said slotted disk.

3. The structure of claim 1 having a bar with extending locking lugsthereon, said bar actuating the lock release mechanism, said slotteddiscs normally blocking said locking lugs, said slotted discs permittingsaid lugs to pass when the slots of all of said discs are in alignment.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said lock has an operating leverextending therefrom with a spring biased lost motion linkage to said barwhereby said operating lever can be moved without moving said bar whensaid bar is in a locked position.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said slotted disc and said toothedwheel are slideablymounted relative to each other and are locked whentogether and free to rotate relative to each other when in spacedrelationship and having a reset mechanism with yokes thereon adapted tomove the slotted disk toward and away from said toothed wheel.

1. A push button combination lock comprising: a. a shaft, b. a pluralityof sets of rotating members mounted on said shaft each set comprising(1) a ratchet wheel, (2) a slotted disc and (3) a toothed wheel, c.friction drive means between said shaft, said slotted disc and saidtoothed wheel, d. means between said ratchet wheel and said shaftwhereby said shaft is positively driven by said ratchet wheel, e. pushbutton means, said push button having a first tooth for engaging anddriving said ratchet wheel and the second tooth for restraining saidtoothed wheel, f. lock releasing means whereby said lock will bereleased when all of said notched disc means are brought into alignment.2. The structure of claim 1 whereiN said toothed wheel and said slotteddisk are adapted to be coupled together in a first position and are freeto rotate when in a second position whereby the combination of the lockcan be changed by changing the relative rotative positions of the saidtoothed wheel and said slotted disk.
 3. The structure of claim 1 havinga bar with extending locking lugs thereon, said bar actuating the lockrelease mechanism, said slotted discs normally blocking said lockinglugs, said slotted discs permitting said lugs to pass when the slots ofall of said discs are in alignment.
 4. The structure of claim 3 whereinsaid lock has an operating lever extending therefrom with a springbiased lost motion linkage to said bar whereby said operating lever canbe moved without moving said bar when said bar is in a locked position.5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said slotted disc and said toothedwheel are slideably mounted relative to each other and are locked whentogether and free to rotate relative to each other when in spacedrelationship and having a reset mechanism with yokes thereon adapted tomove the slotted disk toward and away from said toothed wheel.